used in small groupings. Spicebush NATIVE SHRUBS thrives in full sun but is acceptable in partial sun. It is a good compan- ion to pine or at the edge of a beech- maple-oak woods. It has been re- ARE BACKBONE ported to be difficult to transplant because of the coarse roots but we have had 98% success when plant- OF LANDSCAPES ing in moist, well-drained, sandy loam. During the spring the light green leaves are oblong, 3 to 5 inches in length. This lime-green Allspice, Spicebush, Bayberry, and Snowberry foliage of summer is transformed into a rich yellow during fall. This fall color is spectacular. Spicebush BY DOUGLAS CHAPMAN, "Horticulturist, Dow Gardens, Midland, Ml" flowers very early in the season (late April in Central Michigan). Native shrubs should provide the spring. It grows in a wide range of These thread-like flowers, borne in backbone for home and commer- soil conditions, thriving in moist, clusters near the terminal, are cial landscapes. Four native shrubs well-drained loamy soils but yellowish-green in color. The fruit which thrive when grown in full adapts to well-drained, almost which is scarlet and shaped some- sun or light shade which provide a droughty conditions. It has darker what like raspberries can be spec- real diversity to the landscape in- green leaves during the summer tacular along with the fall foliar clude Carolina Allspice, Spice- months, becoming a pale yellow- color. This native is underused and bush, Northern Bayberry, and green in the fall but does not de- should be grown more in the trade. Snowberry. These natives are rela- velop effective fall color. The two- Lastly, the leaves and stems are tively free of insect and disease inch dark reddish-brown, star-like fragrant, just one additional reason problems, will grow in a wide flowers appear sporadically from to consider culture of this outstand- range of soil conditions, and pro- late May through June. This star ing plant. vide color and uniqueness at times shape is a unique aesthetic trait. Northern Bayberry (Myrica when other shrubs are just back- Further, these flowers are very pensylvanica) is native from Nova ground. fragrant. The urn-shaped fruit Scotia to Pennsylvania mostly Carolina Allspice (Calycanthus (capsule-like at maturity) is not very along the coast. It is very salt- florida) is native from Virginia to effective. This shrub is outstanding tolerant (cholide). Bayberry has a Florida but grows acceptably as far in native plantings as specimens in long history or association with the north as Boston and Central Michi- the home landscape and mass development of our country. It was gan. It grows well in sun or shade plantings in large or commercial used from colonial times to present but is usually slightly taller when landscapes. in the making of highly aromatic grown in shady conditions. It is a Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) is candles (Bayberry candles). This dense round shrub, reaching 6 to 8 an outstanding shrub, 6 to 10 feet in semi-evergreen is perfectly hardy feet in height and 6 to 10 feet in height and width. It is native from when planted in sandy, well- width at maturity but in northern Maine to Florida. Lindera is a na- drained soils. Dirr reports it will ex- areas it seldom grows over 6 feet in tive shrub which is effective in the ist in the clay soils of Central Illi- height and width. Calycanthus can home or commercial landscape, in nois. It should be transplanted be transplanted easily during the naturalized plantings, specimen, or Continues on page 32

Carolina Allspice has reddish-brown flowers. Spicebush is a good companion to pine or as an edge of woods. Shrubs from page 31 balled and burlapped during early Common Snowberry (Sympho- prefers full to medium sun. This spring. Bayberry is an outstanding ricorpos aJbusj has been reported to shrub when found as understory or shrub when used in mass plantings be of little landscape value, but a border plant in large area land- associated with pine or broad- when noted in the fall with fruit, it scapes, commercial landscapes, leaved evergreens as it has similar is unique yet exciting. This natural- parks, or home landscapes is excit- requirements. Myrica spreads from ized plant was brought to this coun- ing. Further, Snowberry has few or root suckers and if planted in full or try during the late 1800's and can no catastrophic insect or disease partial sun will thrive. It will rap- presently be found growing in the problems. idly die out in 50% or more shade. Canadian Maritime Provinces to The four above-mentioned na- The leaves are a rich dark green. Virginia and west to Minnesota. tive shrubs are underused in to- They are oblong, IV2 to 4 inches in This dense shrub at maturity has a day's landscapes. They are par- length. Bayberry flowers are not somewhat upright habit, reaching 3 ticularly effective when used in particularly effective but the grey to 5 feet in height and 2 to 4 feet in naturalized plantings as specimen fruit which literally lines the one- width. The leaves are opposite, shrubs or in mass borders. They are year old growth can be exciting somewhat honeysuckle in appear- usually most effectively grown in during the fall. This fruit is usually ance, being a deep blue-green dur- full or partial sun. They have no profuse on one-year old growth. ing the summer with no effective catastrophic insect and disease The foliage or branches, when fall color. The perfect pink flowers problems, are relatively easy to crushed, are extremely fragrant. are borne in terminal clusters dur- transplant, and will generally de- Although Bayberry has been re- ing June. The white berry-drupe crease maintenance requirements ported to reach 5 to 12 feet in height fruit are borne in clusters. They are for most landscapes. They are not and width, we usually find it rarely interesting and afford an opportu- only exciting for their flower color over 4 to 6 feet in height. Because nity for one to truly enjoy the land- or fruit but also Spicebush, Caro- Myrica spreads by root suckers, it scape. Snowberry can be planted lina Allspice, and Bayberry are ex- tends to form large clumps and is in a wide range of soil conditions citing when the leaves and stems most effective when used in mass from sand to clay but prefers well- are crushed, giving off a unique plantings, be it for individual home drained situations. Further, it is fragrance. These plants truly stim- landscapes or commercial land- a good companion plant when ulate all our sense while adding lit- scapes. planted at the edges of woods as it tle to maintenance costs. WTT

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